Dynamic Characters In Araby

In the story “Araby” by James Joyce the narrator demonstrates to be a dynamic character because he starts as being obsessive and naïve and then becomes wise at the end. In particular, in the beginning of the story, the narrator states Mangan’s sister “…dress swung as she moved her body and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side" (187). Since he describes the girl in much detail it shows how intrigued the narrator is with her. The way he compares her hair to “soft rope” shows he views her as an exquisite and special person. Also, the overall way the narrator describes Mangan’s sister displays his obsession for her. Furthermore, the narrator shows his obsessive trait when he states, “Every morning I lay on the floor in the front parlor watching her door”

For example, he states, “I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood” (187). In other words the narrator has never talked to Mangan’s sister and therefore does not even know her name (187). Since he does not know the girls name it shows her insignificance and how the narrator actually likes the idea of Mangan’s sister but not her as a person. In reality, it is not usual to become infatuated with someone you do not know, and the fact that he is somewhat “in love” with a girl he does not know shows he is naïve. The narrator decides to go to the bazaar and contemplates on what to buy Mangan’s sister. At the end, the narrator expresses, “Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger” (190). As the lights go out at the bazaar, the narrator realizes his trip to the bazaar was pointless because he should not have to prove his self to Mangan’s sister by buying her something. The use of the words “derided by vanity” indicates his motives to pursue the girl was solely for self-interest and not true